CONTENTS
Biographies xvii
Preface xxiii
1 Historical Perspective and Introduction 1
1.1 Scope 1
1.2 Purpose 1
1.3 Introduction 2
1.4 Historical Perspective 4
1.5 Comments 11
1.6 Waste Management 13
2 Drilling Fluids 15
2.1 Drilling Fluid Systems 15
2.1.1 Functions of Drilling Fluids 15
2.1.2 Types of Drilling Fluids 16
2.1.3 Drilling Fluid Selection 17
2.1.4 Separation of Drilled Solids from Drilling Fluids 20
2.2 Characterization of Solids in Drilling Fluids 25
2.2.1 Nature of Drilled Solids and Solid Additives 25
2.2.2 Physical Properties of Solids in Drilling Fluids 26
2.3 Properties of Drilling Fluids 31
2.3.1 Rheology 32
2.4 Hole Cleaning 38
2.4.1 Detection of Hole-Cleaning Problems 38
2.4.2 Drilling Elements That Affect Hole Cleaning 40
2.4.3 Filtration 45
2.4.4 Rate of Penetration 47
2.4.5 Shale Inhibition Potential/Wetting Characteristics 51
2.4.6 Lubricity 52
2.4.7 Corrosivity 53
2.4.8 Drilling-Fluid Stability and Maintenance 54
Biographies xvii
Preface xxiii
1 Historical Perspective and Introduction 1
1.1 Scope 1
1.2 Purpose 1
1.3 Introduction 2
1.4 Historical Perspective 4
1.5 Comments 11
1.6 Waste Management 13
2 Drilling Fluids 15
2.1 Drilling Fluid Systems 15
2.1.1 Functions of Drilling Fluids 15
2.1.2 Types of Drilling Fluids 16
2.1.3 Drilling Fluid Selection 17
2.1.4 Separation of Drilled Solids from Drilling Fluids 20
2.2 Characterization of Solids in Drilling Fluids 25
2.2.1 Nature of Drilled Solids and Solid Additives 25
2.2.2 Physical Properties of Solids in Drilling Fluids 26
2.3 Properties of Drilling Fluids 31
2.3.1 Rheology 32
2.4 Hole Cleaning 38
2.4.1 Detection of Hole-Cleaning Problems 38
2.4.2 Drilling Elements That Affect Hole Cleaning 40
2.4.3 Filtration 45
2.4.4 Rate of Penetration 47
2.4.5 Shale Inhibition Potential/Wetting Characteristics 51
2.4.6 Lubricity 52
2.4.7 Corrosivity 53
2.4.8 Drilling-Fluid Stability and Maintenance 54
2.5 Drilling Fluid Products 54
2.5.1 Colloidal and Fine Solids 54
2.5.2 Macropolymers 55
2.5.3 Conventional Polymers 56
2.5.4 Surface-Active Materials 57
2.6 Health, Safety, and Environment and Waste Management 58
2.6.1 Handling Drilling Fluid Products and Cuttings 58
2.6.2 Drilling Fluid Product Compatibility and Storage
Guidelines 58
2.6.3 Waste Management and Disposal 62
References 66
3 Solids Calculation 69
3.1 Procedure for a More Accurate Low-Gravity Solids
Determination 70
3.1.1 Sample Calculation 73
3.2 Determination of Volume Percentage of Low-Gravity Solids
in Water-Based Drilling Fluid 77
3.3 Rig-Site Determination of Specific Gravity of Drilled
Solids 78
4 Cut Points 81
4.1 How to Determine Cut Point Curves 85
4.2 Cut Point Data: Shale Shaker Example 90
5 Tank Arrangement 93
5.1 Active System 94
5.1.1 Suction and Testing Section 94
5.1.2 Additions Section 95
5.1.3 Removal Section 95
5.1.4 Piping and Equipment Arrangement 96
5.1.5 Equalization 98
5.1.6 Surface Tanks 99
5.1.7 Sand Traps 100
5.1.8 Degasser Suction and Discharge Pit 102
5.1.9 Desander Suction and Discharge Pits 102
5.1.10 Desilter Suction and Discharge Pits (Mud Cleaner/
Conditioner) 103
5.1.11 Centrifuge Suction and Discharge Pits 103
5.2 Auxiliary Tank System 104
5.2.1 Trip Tank 104
5.3 Slug Tank 105
5.4 Reserve Tank(s) 105
2.5.1 Colloidal and Fine Solids 54
2.5.2 Macropolymers 55
2.5.3 Conventional Polymers 56
2.5.4 Surface-Active Materials 57
2.6 Health, Safety, and Environment and Waste Management 58
2.6.1 Handling Drilling Fluid Products and Cuttings 58
2.6.2 Drilling Fluid Product Compatibility and Storage
Guidelines 58
2.6.3 Waste Management and Disposal 62
References 66
3 Solids Calculation 69
3.1 Procedure for a More Accurate Low-Gravity Solids
Determination 70
3.1.1 Sample Calculation 73
3.2 Determination of Volume Percentage of Low-Gravity Solids
in Water-Based Drilling Fluid 77
3.3 Rig-Site Determination of Specific Gravity of Drilled
Solids 78
4 Cut Points 81
4.1 How to Determine Cut Point Curves 85
4.2 Cut Point Data: Shale Shaker Example 90
5 Tank Arrangement 93
5.1 Active System 94
5.1.1 Suction and Testing Section 94
5.1.2 Additions Section 95
5.1.3 Removal Section 95
5.1.4 Piping and Equipment Arrangement 96
5.1.5 Equalization 98
5.1.6 Surface Tanks 99
5.1.7 Sand Traps 100
5.1.8 Degasser Suction and Discharge Pit 102
5.1.9 Desander Suction and Discharge Pits 102
5.1.10 Desilter Suction and Discharge Pits (Mud Cleaner/
Conditioner) 103
5.1.11 Centrifuge Suction and Discharge Pits 103
5.2 Auxiliary Tank System 104
5.2.1 Trip Tank 104
5.3 Slug Tank 105
5.4 Reserve Tank(s) 105
Scalping Shakers and Gumbo Removal 107
7 Shale Shakers 111
7.1 How a Shale Shaker Screens Fluid 113
7.2 Shaker Description 116
7.3 Shale Shaker Limits 118
7.3.1 Fluid Rheological Properties 119
7.3.2 Fluid Surface Tension 120
7.3.3 Wire Wettability 120
7.3.4 Fluid Density 120
7.3.5 Solids: Type, Size, and Shape 120
7.3.6 Quantity of Solids 121
7.3.7 Hole Cleaning 121
7.4 Shaker Development Summary 121
7.5 Shale Shaker Design 122
7.5.1 Shape of Motion 123
7.5.2 Vibrating Systems 133
7.5.3 Screen Deck Design 134
7.5.4 g Factor 136
7.5.5 Power Systems 140
7.6 Selection of Shale Shakers 143
7.6.1 Selection of Shaker Screens 145
7.6.2 Cost of Removing Drilled Solids 145
7.6.3 Specific Factors 146
7.7 Cascade Systems 148
7.7.1 Separate Unit 150
7.7.2 Integral Unit with Multiple Vibratory Motions 150
7.7.3 Integral Unit with a Single Vibratory Motion 152
7.7.4 Cascade Systems Summary 152
7.8 Dryer Shakers 153
7.9 Shaker User’s Guide 154
7.9.1 Installation 155
7.9.2 Operation 156
7.9.3 Maintenance 157
7.9.4 Operating Guidelines 158
7.10 Screen Cloths 159
7.10.1 Common Screen Cloth Weaves 160
7.10.2 Revised API Designation System 167
7.10.3 Screen Identification 174
7.11 Factors Affecting Percentage-Separated Curves 174
7.11.1 Screen Blinding 176
7.11.2 Materials of Construction 177
7.11.3 Screen Panels 178
7 Shale Shakers 111
7.1 How a Shale Shaker Screens Fluid 113
7.2 Shaker Description 116
7.3 Shale Shaker Limits 118
7.3.1 Fluid Rheological Properties 119
7.3.2 Fluid Surface Tension 120
7.3.3 Wire Wettability 120
7.3.4 Fluid Density 120
7.3.5 Solids: Type, Size, and Shape 120
7.3.6 Quantity of Solids 121
7.3.7 Hole Cleaning 121
7.4 Shaker Development Summary 121
7.5 Shale Shaker Design 122
7.5.1 Shape of Motion 123
7.5.2 Vibrating Systems 133
7.5.3 Screen Deck Design 134
7.5.4 g Factor 136
7.5.5 Power Systems 140
7.6 Selection of Shale Shakers 143
7.6.1 Selection of Shaker Screens 145
7.6.2 Cost of Removing Drilled Solids 145
7.6.3 Specific Factors 146
7.7 Cascade Systems 148
7.7.1 Separate Unit 150
7.7.2 Integral Unit with Multiple Vibratory Motions 150
7.7.3 Integral Unit with a Single Vibratory Motion 152
7.7.4 Cascade Systems Summary 152
7.8 Dryer Shakers 153
7.9 Shaker User’s Guide 154
7.9.1 Installation 155
7.9.2 Operation 156
7.9.3 Maintenance 157
7.9.4 Operating Guidelines 158
7.10 Screen Cloths 159
7.10.1 Common Screen Cloth Weaves 160
7.10.2 Revised API Designation System 167
7.10.3 Screen Identification 174
7.11 Factors Affecting Percentage-Separated Curves 174
7.11.1 Screen Blinding 176
7.11.2 Materials of Construction 177
7.11.3 Screen Panels 178
13.3.5 Running Centrifuges in Series 318
13.3.6 Centrifuging Drilling Fluids with Costly Liquid
Phases 320
13.3.7 Flocculation Units 320
13.3.8 Centrifuging Hydrocyclone Underflows 321
13.3.9 Operating Reminders 321
13.3.10 Miscellaneous 321
13.4 Rotary Mud Separator 321
13.4.1 Problem 1 322
13.5 Solutions to the Questions in Problem 1 324
13.5.1 Question 1 324
13.5.2 Question 2 324
13.5.3 Question 3 324
13.5.4 Question 4 325
13.5.5 Question 5 325
13.5.6 Question 6 325
13.5.7 Question 7 325
13.5.8 Question 8 325
13.5.9 Question 9 326
13.5.10 Question 10 326
14 Use of the Capture Equation to Evaluate the Performance
of Mechanical Separation Equipment Used to Process
Drilling Fluids 327
14.1 Procedure 330
14.1.1 Collecting Data for the Capture Analysis 330
14.1.2 Laboratory Analysis 330
14.2 Applying the Capture Calculation 331
14.2.1 Case 1: Discarded Solids Report to Underflow 331
14.2.2 Case 2: Discarded Solids Report to Overflow 331
14.2.3 Characterizing Removed Solids 331
14.3 Use of Test Results 332
14.3.1 Specific Gravity 332
14.3.2 Particle Size 332
14.3.3 Economics 333
14.4 Collection and Use of Supplementary Information 334
15 Dilution 335
15.1 Effect of Porosity 337
15.2 Removal Efficiency 338
15.3 Reasons for Drilled-Solids Removal 339
15.4 Diluting as a Means for Controlling Drilled Solids 340
15.5 Effect of Solids Removal System Performance 341
13.3.6 Centrifuging Drilling Fluids with Costly Liquid
Phases 320
13.3.7 Flocculation Units 320
13.3.8 Centrifuging Hydrocyclone Underflows 321
13.3.9 Operating Reminders 321
13.3.10 Miscellaneous 321
13.4 Rotary Mud Separator 321
13.4.1 Problem 1 322
13.5 Solutions to the Questions in Problem 1 324
13.5.1 Question 1 324
13.5.2 Question 2 324
13.5.3 Question 3 324
13.5.4 Question 4 325
13.5.5 Question 5 325
13.5.6 Question 6 325
13.5.7 Question 7 325
13.5.8 Question 8 325
13.5.9 Question 9 326
13.5.10 Question 10 326
14 Use of the Capture Equation to Evaluate the Performance
of Mechanical Separation Equipment Used to Process
Drilling Fluids 327
14.1 Procedure 330
14.1.1 Collecting Data for the Capture Analysis 330
14.1.2 Laboratory Analysis 330
14.2 Applying the Capture Calculation 331
14.2.1 Case 1: Discarded Solids Report to Underflow 331
14.2.2 Case 2: Discarded Solids Report to Overflow 331
14.2.3 Characterizing Removed Solids 331
14.3 Use of Test Results 332
14.3.1 Specific Gravity 332
14.3.2 Particle Size 332
14.3.3 Economics 333
14.4 Collection and Use of Supplementary Information 334
15 Dilution 335
15.1 Effect of Porosity 337
15.2 Removal Efficiency 338
15.3 Reasons for Drilled-Solids Removal 339
15.4 Diluting as a Means for Controlling Drilled Solids 340
15.5 Effect of Solids Removal System Performance 341